Usually, they are aggressive, shy, afraid or stressed. Test your would-be dog's personality by playing around with it. A good response is often a good indication that a dog is comfortable around you. Don t be surprised if it is not playful though. It is enough that he tolerates being petted without showing apprehension. To find your perfect dog match, use the following information: Dog breed Dog breed is the prime consideration when picking a dog to adopt and is probably the best criteria to begin with when choosing a dog. There are literally hundreds of dog breeds you can choose from. To make the selection easier for you, you can either choose use dog breed selectors available online or use some begin your search with the breed you have set your eyes on. They may look as cute as toys, but they are not. You just can't send them off to their puppy houses when you don t feel like playing with them or turn them off just like you would a toy. Adult dogs, on the other hand, are much easier to keep. They have outgrown the high energy craziness of puppies and they already know what are demanded of them. No amount of preparation though can limit your dog to the characteristics, temperament, and behavior that are ideal for you. Nevertheless, several small preparations can help minimize the odds that you are adopting a wrong dog for you or your family. Adopt the perfect dog using the following criteria: The dog breed. The Benefits Adopting A Dog From A Shelter Despite the presence of many shelters and rescue groups, many dog owners still get their dogs from pet shops, not knowing that adopting a dog from a shelter is a much better option. Why would you pick your pet from an animal shelter? Here are the top reasons: You're helping the canine community. While they are not ideal around children because they move very fast, they are good company to older people who could use extra cheer around the house. One of the downside to having a companion dog is that because of their size, they are vulnerable to larger animals. When you are located in areas where winters could be very cold, you would want to consider companion dog breeds that are fluffy or are longhaired.